Pay licence fee, even if you don't own a TV

[Still Waters]

Householders could be required to pay the television licence fee even if they do not own a television, under proposals being discussed by the BBC.

Lord Hall, the BBC's director-general, wants to extend the £145.50 annual fee in response to the growing popularity of iPlayer, which enables viewers to watch programmes on home computers, mobile phones and tablet devices.

http://www.telegraph...for-longer.html

[Mr.United_Nations]

he only wants the money and wont be long before another director general leaves

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

I think that a fee for the use of iPlayer MAY be useful. But then again, maybe not.

The BBC is releasing an online store for the purchase of their programmes so maybe that'll soothe the need for "money from digital" itch.

[RoofGardener]

I'm pretty sure this would require a change in the law.... possibly even in Primary Legislation ??

That means it would be the politicians introducing any such law... not the BBC.

And politicians would be aware that this would - most likely - be extraordinarily unpopular amongst voters.

In terms of resistance, it has the potential to rival the poll tax, and even become an election-loser.

I have NO idea how this came to pass in Germany, but I find it hard to imagine this coming to fruition in the UK.

How about THIS for an idea ? The ITV companies could band together, and lobby for a law banning the BBC from spending license-fee money on ANY expansion of online services, on the grounds that such activities are not covered under the terms of the Royal Charter, and represent a monopolistic infringement on an area best left to free enterprise.

ITV already has a registration-based "pay-per-view" system, with SOME output free, and other items at £0.99 for two days viewing. So the BBC can hardly claim to occupy a unique market position.

[+ouija ouija]

I haven't had a TV for more than 10 yrs and of course there have been times when I've been challenged on that by the licensing people. I have always understood it to be the case that if you watch programmes live through any medium then you must have a license. This is how it has been for years.

[stevewinn]

why not just ask for your TV licence number to 'sign in' to use the online iplayer. no TV licence number no access to BBC iplayer. - would seem like a simple way forward?

[skookum]

why not just ask for your TV licence number to 'sign in' to use the online iplayer. no TV licence number no access to BBC iplayer. - would seem like a simple way forward?

That's the obvious way to tackle the issue, is it really an issue?

The BBC are always trying to find ways of fleecing the UK public for more money. In the past they have also suggested we should pay a licence for internet access and cars should pay a licence to have radio's in them.

How about the concentrate on quality programs and have a subscription service like Sky? Surely a better way than making suggestions like this that make them even more unpopular with viewers.

[RoofGardener]

why not just ask for your TV licence number to 'sign in' to use the online iplayer. no TV licence number no access to BBC iplayer. - would seem like a simple way forward?

I wondered about that, and then realised that within weeks of the system being put in place, somebody would bribe an employee at Capita, or the BBC, to leak the LASSY database, and create a black market for TV license numbers.

Oh... here's a thing. If watching TV on your computer becomes a licensable act then so - by any rational definition of "receiver" - does watching it on your 3G mobile phone. So, by extension, all owners of 3G mobile phones will have to have a TV license, regardless of whether they use them to watch TV.

I'm assuming that it is possible to get anonymous pay-as-you-go mobile phones with internet access ? These cannot easily be traced to an individual. Therefore, the only way forwards would be for every UK adult (or household) to be required to pay the TV license, regardless as to whether they possess such a device.

[Leonardo]

why not just ask for your TV licence number to 'sign in' to use the online iplayer. no TV licence number no access to BBC iplayer. - would seem like a simple way forward?

Because the iPlayer is not a 'live broadcast' service, and so not covered under the charter by which the BBC are allowed to charge for a licence. At present, the BBC is not allowed to restrict access to any tv service which is not 'live broadcast'.

Ouija is right in saying that, if you watch BBC tv streaming online live then you are required to have a licence.

[A rather obscure Bassoon]

Laughable, undemocratic and another example of BBC bully boy tactics.A stealth tax on tablet users and pc users connected to the Internet.

No doubt the Sheeple will just sit back and accept this....

Edited April 7, 2014 by shaddow134

[stevewinn]

Because the iPlayer is not a 'live broadcast' service, and so not covered under the charter by which the BBC are allowed to charge for a licence. At present, the BBC is not allowed to restrict access to any tv service which is not 'live broadcast'.

Ouija is right in saying that, if you watch BBC tv streaming online live then you are required to have a licence.

well the charter will have to move with the times and be amended to cover BBC online content, live and non live - I love the service the BBC provides, TV, Radio, Online. and i dont want to see it commercialised. i just couldn't deal with that. over 90% of my TV viewing must be BBC content.